THE BONGO CLUB (Part 2)

[novenpeter]

Originally Posted by Néal Zheimer

Hi Peter

I don't live in the USA neither but EBMM customer service was of great help when I contacted them by phone or e-mail.

Depending of where you live on the planet, EBMM could deal directly with you or you could have to use the service of an exclusive importer for EBMM products in your country. The customer service can tell you that too.

thanks for your reply. As i live in Hong Kong the shipping from US will be very very expensive, and the local dealer of EBMM often charge a lot on ordering specify product and need to wait an extreme long time. So i am thinking what can i do in order to get those stuff

[Atalante]

Originally Posted by Epitaph04

I'm still shocked someone would use such words to describe the Bongo's tone! It's one thing to call it ugly but to say it lacks....punch....I mean LISTEN to these clips! All different variety of tones, and none of them lack punch and/or definition! One of these is even of our resident Master Bass Guitarist, Alvabass, the very leader of this club!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLyV5JLvxM0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rO2K8F5-Xs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uk6IKnHje4&feature=plcp

Thats a pretty sterile and glassy punch to my ears and now the Bongo is flying out the window!

Until never again.

[MarkusBass]

Originally Posted by Mrfstop

The 18V Bongo pre amp will blow down walls.
This has been my experience with them.
Lacking punch? Impossible.
Something must be wrong with the bass.

Yep...agree. Bongos are beasts!

[Mrfstop]

Originally Posted by MarkusBass

Yep...agree. Bongos are beasts!

FO SHO!
As in that beautiful sexy Blue Bongo you just listed for sale for a killer price?

FS: Beautiful Bongo


I know the only reason ya are parting ways with it, is to allow for the new BFR rosewood neck Bongo ya will soon have on the way
hahahah

The BFR will look amazing laying on the hard wood floor of fame!

[MarkusBass]

Thanks man!!!

[Mrfstop]

After owning 4 Killer Bongos in the last year...
This is the last one standing.
Mint new old stock 2008 LE Sequoia gold with gold hdware.
LE lizard case w/ gold poodle lining

[MarkusBass]

Love it!!

[Mrfstop]

Originally Posted by MarkusBass

Love it!!

As you will love the one that will be heading your way this week...lol

[MarkusBass]

Originally Posted by Mrfstop

As you will love the one that will be heading your way this week...lol

Oh yes...can't wait my friend!

[Kilometers]

I'm very close to ordering a stealth HH Bongo 5 from basscentral as an upgrade from my current mid 2000s ESP B206. I just wanted to ask a few questions to the owners in this thread.

I've heard some really bad things about the necks, mostly truss rod issues. How big of a deal with that be living in Florida? I don't want to ever think about setting the neck after I buy it, since i'm buying an expensive guitar for a reason. To avoid shoddy workmanship and bad quality aspects holding me down.

How comfortable is it while playing in classical position? (body between your legs and resting on the left leg opposed to the right). Does the neck have to be held up with the fretting hand? I rarely use a strap so that's a big deal for me.

How is the general build quality? Does it feel like a well crafted luxury bass? I want something that sounds amazing and looks like a really well designed piece of art. I need even the smallest details on the body to be thought out and perfectly executed.

Any other comments or suggestions are appreciated. I'll be playing a good mix of prog/metal/jazz with and I'm not too worried about not getting that out of it. The variety of tones seems great.

[Mrfstop]

Originally Posted by Kilometers

I'm very close to ordering a stealth HH Bongo 5 from basscentral as an upgrade from my current mid 2000s ESP B206. I just wanted to ask a few questions to the owners in this thread.

I've heard some really bad things about the necks, mostly truss rod issues. How big of a deal with that be living in Florida? I don't want to ever think about setting the neck after I buy it, since i'm buying an expensive guitar for a reason. To avoid shoddy workmanship and bad quality aspects holding me down.

How comfortable is it while playing in classical position? (body between your legs and resting on the left leg opposed to the right). Does the neck have to be held up with the fretting hand? I rarely use a strap so that's a big deal for me.

How is the general build quality? Does it feel like a well crafted luxury bass? I want something that sounds amazing and looks like a really well designed piece of art. I need even the smallest details on the body to be thought out and perfectly executed.

Any other comments or suggestions are appreciated. I'll be playing a good mix of prog/metal/jazz with and I'm not too worried about not getting that out of it. The variety of tones seems great.

Well I have had 4 bongo 4 bangers and never had one problem with the neck or the entire bass for that matter.
The all seemed well balanced. No problem there IMO.

The build quality is good.
It is good for a bass that runs around $1,500 brand new or less on average.

I mean is it a Fodera? US Spector? Us Lakland? US Sadowsky?
In regard to build feel and quality?
ummm, NO.
But then again those start around $3,500 and range over $10K.

I am a fan of the Bongo...
It's a well built USA bass for $1,400 ( ish ) and up brand new.
I think BMW and EBMM worked well designing a very very cool bass.

[Joe Nerve]

Originally Posted by Kilometers

I've heard some really bad things about the necks, mostly truss rod issues. How big of a deal with that be living in Florida? I don't want to ever think about setting the neck after I buy it, since i'm buying an expensive guitar for a reason. To avoid shoddy workmanship and bad quality aspects holding me down.

I've owned 3 bongos (2 4s and a 5) and never experienced any neck issues. I adjust the neck a couple of times a year, but I do with pretty much all my basses. I'm in NY, and we have some pretty dramatic weather changes. Cool thing with the Bongo for me is that I just stick a skinny screwdriver in and turn. Takes literally 10 seconds. I'm going to guess that in Fla, where the climate change isn't as dramatic as NY, you're not going to have to do much adjusting.

2 other things; buying a bass with the expectation of never having to adjust the neck is a bit unrealistic. Not sure there's a bass in the world that that would apply to. Not with a wooden neck anyhow. And 2nd, the only issues I ever heard of with Bongo necks was with one guy posting here about his 6 string. I didn't read too much into the thread, so I don't know the details, but I never heard anyone complaining with a 4 or 5.

How comfortable is it while playing in classical position? (body between your legs and resting on the left leg opposed to the right). Does the neck have to be held up with the fretting hand? I rarely use a strap so that's a big deal for me.

By classical position I assume you mean how one would hold a classical guitar. I just checked it out as it's something I've never done. Neck wasn't going anywhere. It sits perfectly balanced on my left thigh.

How is the general build quality? Does it feel like a well crafted luxury bass? I want something that sounds amazing and looks like a really well designed piece of art. I need even the smallest details on the body to be thought out and perfectly executed.

I believe so. One of the things people talk most about here is the quality control that goes into Musicman basses. I own Warwicks, Fenders, some custom made basses, and have had a little of everything in between. Craftsmanship and quality destroy Fender, and are equal to any Warwick I've ever owned. They look and feel like works of art to me. Never owned a Fodera, but have played them. They feel much different than a MM, so I wouldn't want to compare. Lets just say that Bongos aren't woodsy feeling basses. They feel more like the BMWs they were descendents of.

Any other comments or suggestions are appreciated.

If you're not on musiciansfriend's mailing list I'd suggest you get on it now, and order one from them. You can get 20% off for black friday. If there's anything you're not nuts about with it, you can return it no questions asked.

[Epitaph04]

Ha I knew my thread had something to do with kilo's worries! I'm actually dropping it off at EBMM for a new neck tomorrow...only reason I'm even bothering to pay for one is because the Bongo is a freaking KILLER bass guitar. It seems like my issues with it are in the minority, as I've only ever seen a couple of other people have issues similar to mine.

Get yours from an authorized dealer, and you'll be able to have any issue taken care of.

[Kilometers]

You guys are the best, seriously. Thanks for clearing up some things and pushing me that much closer to buying one.

About the not feeling woodsy thing, does that imply that it doesn't feel like the notes resonate through the guitar? In my head i'm imagining the BMWesque body feels hollow and weak but that's probably my buyer anxiety. I love nice solid woodsy guitars but not enough to make me never stray from those types of guitars. My two interests are the Bongo and something like an Ibanez SR5005E. Quite a difference.

Oh, one more thing. What are the necks like? I can't seem to find a picture online that really shows off the shape of the neck.

[Mrfstop]

I owned a stealth package stingray HH4 and I can tell ya the stealth in person looks really amazing.
And the fact ya can get an ebony board is a huge bonus IMO...
I find it a bit silly that EBMM will not let you order an Ebony board on any bongo or ray or big al....
Other bass makers allow it.

[Mrfstop]

Originally Posted by Kilometers

You guys are the best, seriously. Thanks for clearing up some things and pushing me that much closer to buying one.

About the not feeling woodsy thing, does that imply that it doesn't feel like the notes resonate through the guitar? In my head i'm imagining the BMWesque body feels hollow and weak but that's probably my buyer anxiety. I love nice solid woodsy guitars but not enough to make me never stray from those types of guitars. My two interests are the Bongo and something like an Ibanez SR5005E. Quite a difference.

Oh, one more thing. What are the necks like? I can't seem to find a picture online that really shows off the shape of the neck.

It is not a sterile sound or vibe by any stretch...
Just as he said it is not thumpy and "woody" sounding.
It is sleek and ballsy and has a ton of OOOMPH! thanks to the awesome 18V pre!
But you can go from thumpy to snarly with the twist of a few knobs very quickly.
Very cool bass.
The neck profile is fairly thin IMO.
Never owned a sterling...But heard they are similar to that.
It feels thin and fast to me.
The painted neck does not bother me a bit.
Normally I dislike glossy painted or finished necks.
But the Satin style paint they use is very smooth and very fast.

[Epitaph04]

Well the Bongo has a satin finish on it, so yeah I'm not going to mistake it for a Warwick's oil finished neck or whatever. However, it does NOT feel hollow or weak by any means. The Bongo (especially the 6 string variety) is beefy, and very solid. The 4 and 5 string Bongo's have a slightly smaller body, but even a 5er I held years ago felt super sturdy and beefy.

Bongo = Beefy, for sure, but it's a very comfortable instrument.

[Kilometers]

So how are you all not sales reps yet? I don't think I can pass up this bass, it's such a great instrument for the money. Thanks again!

[Musicman20]

If you order a factory fresh bass you will get the new tuners, which makes the bass lighter and will stop any neck dive issues, (if there are any).

I have a 5 HH Tang Pearl/Black Plate on order due ANY DAY!

I'm almost ready to order a 5 HS Sky Blue/Vintage Pearl Plate...

I've played a HH briefly and the electronics really are something....HUGE tone.

[tkozal]

My Bongo 5HH has one the most stable necks I have. I live on the east end of LI most of the time, or NYC and the weather can be murder, and the Bongo neck behaves better than many of my other basses.

I bought my Bongo at a GC sale like 4-5 years ago, the biggest issue was the neglect it suffered there.